Skylake X Direct Die Frame with EK Mono Block Liquid cooler

[thething55]

Afternoon,

 

I have recently completed my first custom water loop consisting of a dual radiator setup with a CPU and GPU block.

Before all this I delided my 7960X but I haven't managed to get a great result (It's better but not as good as I was expecting) with liquid metal.

In a couple of months time I am planning on redoing my loop as I made a couple of poor choices in regards to the reservoir layout and sharp bends as I forgot to buy 90 degree fittings.

While my loop is drained I am thinking about getting a direct die frame for my processor and mounting my existing monochrome block but I am not sure if it will work as it also cools the VRMs as well.

My block is https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fb-asus-rog-r6e-monoblock-nickel

 

Does anyone know if the block will fit/work with the VRMs when attached directly to the CPU die? I assume the block will sit slightly lower to compensate for the IHS but i'm not sure how much lower.

 

Thanks,

Scott

 

 

[Mick Naughty]

Depends on the space lost from the ihs and if you can run a thing enough pad to make up for it. 

 

 

[MaratM]

You need an “extention plate” for the monoblock. It has to be custom made. Most of ek monoblocks use a “standard” ek supremacy coldplate. And the monoblock is attached to the cpu cold plate with 4 screws. So you need to lower it down by the thickness of the IHS at the die area in order to get contact with the die. The easiest way to do it is to sell the monoblock and get a normal ek cpu waterblock and direct die kit from ek.

Ps. What temp you expect? A stone cold chip at 5 ghz with avx on? It is a 16core cpu.

[thething55]

I am currently running at 4.7GHz with a voltage between 1.3 and 1.35. It runs at about 35 degress at idle but thermal throttles at 105 under full load.

 

 

I have measured the block tonight and get about 1.94mm. The thermal pads on the mosfets are 1mm leaving me with an extra 0.94mm to drop. It's possible that there is enough "give" that it would just sit on top with some thermal paste.

 

I am going to brink my IHS into work tomorrow and try and measure it with a micro meter so I can be sure of its thickness (the lip on the IHS made measuring it hard)

It's also possible that I may be able to lose a tiny bit of the block to make up the difference.

 

Would the monoblock sit lower without the IHS or is something else holding its height? (I know some coolers have "fixed" heights)

casekings website says that the frame is not compatible with motherboard monoblocks which is a little disheartening since I only just bought this block haha.

 

Will update tomorrow if I find anything else out.

 

 

Many thanks,

Scott

 

 

 

[Kalm_Traveler]

Those numbers sound pretty bad. Have you not delidded and relidded with liquid metal yet? 

 

My 7960x does 4.7ghz on 1.25v all day, idles around 26c (72 F room) and never passes 60's on those settings. 

 

Benchmarking the other day i ramped it up to 5ghz all-core on 1.37v for a few hours and still no core ever hit more than about 83c

[MaratM]

The monoblock sits on the standoffs and the vrm part of the block (with its own standoffs). In order to lower down the monoblock you need shorter large monoblock standoffs and have to machine the vrm part if the monoblock by X - 0,5mm (X = hight if the IHS) 0,5mm is probably the thinest thermal pad you can get.

looks like you did not win the lottery with you chip. Is it stable at lower voltage?

[Maticks]

When i had my monoblock even delidding created issues with clearance for me.

the temps went up not down for me and it was because the CPU IHS hardly made contact with the coldplate of the monoblock.

 

monoblocks are designed to look pretty and clean, not for modifying the IHS height or removing the IHS.

even removing the black caps off the monoblock stand offs won't really help the VRM height standoffs also will hit the monoblock preventing making complete contact.

 

a Velocity block and a VRM seperate block is your next best bet, you can at least get perfect contact with each given your direct die is going to be much lower profile.

 

[MaratM]

You might use this vrm waterblock http://shop.watercool.de/11560 and a ek-supremacy/velocity waterblock for the cpu, with a direct die mounting hardware

[thething55]

UPDATE:

 

I eventual got around to picking up my Frame and as a surprise to no one it didn't work. We are only talking about 1mm but it's still 1mm of separation haha. 

 

I have found a good CPU only water block and I am now in the process of looking for a vrm cooler in UK.

 

 

Thanks,

Scott

[MaratM]

You best bet is order it directly from germany (link above) but you can always try to run it without the vrm waterblock, just place a fan on top of the vrm heatsink, otherwise you can use a small (2 slot) ram waterblock ontop of the vrm heatsink, there is also a noname chinese vrm waterblock avaliable at ebay or aliexpress.

[thething55]

Hi MaratM.

 

This looks like the best option

 

I will probably move back to stock air on the vrms for a couple of weeks (getting a new block tomorrow) and will use a cpu only liquid cooler on my cpu for the time being.

 

Next upgrade will be a 1500W PSU as I am tripping my 1200 at the moment so I'll probably get this cooler ordered now and will fit it in my next upgrade cycle.

 

You seem very knowledgeable on the subject, have you learned from experience? If so, would you say it's worth it and what sort of temps do you get?

I am really looking forward to attaching my cooler on tomorrow and seeing what temps I get. Hopefully I will be able crank up the voltage a little higher and get a stable 5GHz on all cores.

 

 

Thanks,

Scott

 

 

[MaratM]

18 hours ago, thething55 said:

You seem very knowledgeable on the subject, have you learned from experience? If so, would you say it's worth it and what sort of temps do you get?

I am really looking forward to attaching my cooler on tomorrow and seeing what temps I get. Hopefully I will be able crank up the voltage a little higher and get a stable 5GHz on all cores

My last project was building a watercooled motherboard that never had a made kit for it, its in the buildlog in my signature. When you take such a project you end up with a lot of options and you end up picking the best one. For me it was 2 chinese noname blocks for the nb and sb and part of ek kit for simmilar motherboard.

getting a stable 5gHz is a good goal, but you need a good chip to start with. I’m currently running my 8700k at 4,9 and have no issues with temp or stability even at 5.1 but the performance gains are minimum between 4.9 and 5.1)

5 gHz just a nice number just like it feels good to have a car that runs 1/4 mile in 12 seconds, but that is a practical use of it outside the drag strip?